Do you have to register at the British Consulate if resident in Spain?

It used to be obligatory to register at the Consulates and each year a team would arrive in Torrevieja to update the register. However, nowadays it is not required but it is still recommended to do so, in the event that others, relatives for example, may wish to make contact. And vice a versa should there be some form of calamity if the consulate has your details at hand then they can act in case of an emergency and advise relatives.

Town Hall Registration - do you have to?

The empadronamiento is the local town hall census and it is considered essential and beneficial to register as it entitles each person to election rights at municipal elections. The Spanish system also offers grants to town halls dependent on the number of registered citizens and in Torrevieja those who are on the padron are entitled to free municipal bus travel. It costs NOTHING to register and there is a lot to gain, personally and collectively.

112 is the emergency number for all services.

AGE CONCERN has set up an information line for the over 50's in conjunction with the British Consulate.

AGE CONCERN INFOLINE   902 003 838

Health Emergencies:   112 is still the principal emergency telephone number to call for ambulances, but only in emergencies. Staff who speak English and other languages are available and will respond also to fire and police emergency calls. Always state your telephone number, address including town, and what the situation is likely to be e.g. heart attack, asthma, robbery, or mugging.

An all-in one number for making appointments (citas) for doctor or hospital is now available through 96-572-1400 from Monday to Friday from 9.00 a 22.00 and on Saturday from 9.00 a 15.00.

The La Loma Clinic has an emergency system from 20.00 - 08.00 the following morning every day throughout the year. Otherwise in an emergency contact your own doctor, as it is normally easy to see him/her at the end of the surgery session.

URGENCIAS al 5013 is a system of text messaging whereby a vehicle with a patient in dire need of attention at the Emergency Unit of the Torrevieja Hospital can be informed of which door to arrive at where staff will be prepared to meet the incoming patient.

Guardamar has free buses running to and from the Torrevieja Hospital on a limited schedule.

Blood donations:

From 20th July the Torrevieja Hospital has begun a monthly programme of blood donation so that donors can provide the necessary blood for the patients. More information from the Hospital.

March Beaches: The Red Cross lifesavers will begin manning the beaches this month. In 2006 the Torrevieja lifesavers intervened in 451 sea rescues. Only one 80-year old died on La Mata beach when he had a heart attack. On the beaches the Red Cross also attended to 5,819 minor injuries, mostly jellyfish stings, cuts etc. plus 975 social assistances such as looking for a lost child, helping disabled in and out of the water. Emergency Tel. 112

Too much Sun bathing = Cancer

Each year 3,000 cases of skin cancer are diagnosed with the major culprit being over exposure to the sun and failing to use sun blockers.

Ambulances: Alicante Province has 17 SAMU ambulances with life-saving equipment and a trio staff of doctor, nurse and first aid/driver. In addition there are over 100 SVB ambulances (Basic Life Support) in Valencian region of which 40 are in Alicante Province. Emergency 112

More ambulances will be introduced in the province this year 2008.

RED CROSS AMBULANCE

In Spain ambulances have a legal life span of only ten years after which the vehicle and its equipment must be retired from ambulance service. For most of the year the Red Cross of Torrevieja use the ambulance bought by the foreign community on the beach route. This ambulance is recognisable by a rainbow logo with the letters ARC (Associates of the Red Cross) and at the end of 2008 will have to be retired. Therefore, a new replacement is required and a fund raising campaign will be introduced.

Old ambulances are refitted out as people carriers and in Torrevieja are used for the extensive Red Cross social services department for ferrying personnel and the elderly on short outings. Sometimes the ambulance and equipment will be sent to another country where the restrictions are not so stiff as the ambulances are maintained in perfect condition as is the equipment.

Medusas - jellyfish

When the weather is extremely hot the four types of Mediterranean jellyfish increase in numbers and size and can float in banks. Their sting can be very painful and in some cases fatal for those who have an allergy to the sting. If it should happen then consult a Red Cross or lifeguard station. DO NOT POUR FRESH WATER ON THE STING: USE SEAWATER ONLY if you must alleviate the sting. Fresh water can actually activate the blood circulation and spread the poison more rapidly.   Protect your hands as the needles can penetrate gloves, and apply cold compresses (but not ice directly). Neutralise the venom with alcohol or vinegar. Pharmacies sell a special cream or hydrocortisone foam. You can use analgesics to relieve the pain. In addition if you see jellyfish in the water inform the lifesavers so that the jellyfish can be scooped out of the water as they represent a danger to other bathers. Do not be shy about visiting the emergency clinic if the symptoms become too bad. As a further precaution a dozen fishing vessels will catch medusas offshore in the Costa Blanca, three of these are from Torrevieja and catch around 14 tonnes...that do not reach the beaches.

2007 was a different matter with many people ignoring both the signs of nature and the lifesavers by swimming in rough waters or when the red flag was up. As a result there were several deaths.

6 June - two people died, British and Spanish, died at Campoamor beach in Guardamar, the Brit trying to save the other. A third Spaniard survived. This beach near the hotel has strong undercurrents.

23 June: 73-year-old man died at Los Locos beach in Torrevieja. This age group should take care when swimming as sometimes the heart has too much pressure put on it when in the water.

24 June: 53-year-old woman died at Elche's La Marina beach.

30 June a man of 47 years died in the cala of Benitatxell. Calas are coves and often these types of places can have strong hidden currents.

4 Jul another 73-year-old man died in Denia when there were no lifesavers.

13 July the same happened at Cala Capitan on Orihuela Costa at Cabo Roig near La Zenia beach. A 57 old Madrid man got into trouble, a 39-year-old Dutchman went to his aid, but got into difficulties. Then two British men then went in to try to save them but both the Spaniard and Dutchman died and the two Brits were hospitalised. Again it was at a time when there were no lifesavers on duty.

14 July a 22 year old died in another beach at Benitatxell.

14 July a man of 79 died on the beach of Acequion in Torrevieja. This is really not a beach as it is inside the harbour and is not really classified as a beach and the boats can contaminate the water.

16 July a six-year old child died at El Camp beach in Guardamar and her 8 year old brother was badly injured. Both the long beach at Guardamar and the La Mata beach are open to the sea and, therefore, have some dangerous places with undercurrents.

23rd July a 70 year old man nearly died at Torrelamata beach swimming at three o'clock in the afternoon in a temperature of 33º. A woman on the beach worked for half an hour providing cardiac massage and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. When the SAMU ambulance arrived he had to be hospitalised, and survived a further week in the intensive care unit of Torrevieja Hospital.

Even inland, at the Pantano de La Pedrera near San Miguel de las Salinas a Rumanian man drowned in this reservoir on 22 July 2007 when he was celebrating his birthday with his family. It took three days before his body surfaced and was recovered by the police.

Swimming pools also have to be supervised and children should not be left alone. Last year (2007) a 7-year old boy got his hand stuck in a water inlet in a community pool and the water level was reduced and three people held him up. It took firemen three hours to free him using chain saws and finally a small hand saw. The boy was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The pool required repairs to replace the blocks the firemen had raised and the tubing.

Swim Safely and Enjoy Your Visit

Every year thousands of holidaymakers descend on the resorts of the Costa Blanca to enjoy themselves with particular emphasis on the sea and beaches. Most of the year the sea is tranquil and it is a joy to be there, enjoy the golden sands, and bathe in the rays of the sun. Every year people drown and statistics show that 90% of them are over the age of 55. The sea is one of the most dangerous places to be if the weather conditions are bad and often undercurrents cannot be seen from shore. The Red Cross, whose volunteers man many of the first aid posts set up on the beaches during the summer, offer advice for sun worshippers and those who like to swim in the sea.

- Obey the warning flags: if it is red then do not swim; if it is yellow then swim but don't go far and be extra careful; if green then the sea is considered to be safe.

- Do not rush into the water, take the time to adjust your body to the water's temperature, wetting various parts of the body before actually swimming: this is essential if you have been sunbathing or eating copiously beforehand.

  - If you feel caught up in a current don't try to fight against it but go with the flow and try to swim parallel to the shoreline then try for the shore itself.

  - Get out of the water immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms - shivering, sensations of fatigue, headache, pins and needles in the neck, itching in the belly, legs or arms, dizziness or vertigo, drumming in the ears, blurred vision, tired muscles, pain in the ears.

-   If you find that you are in the water with any of these symptoms ask for help and if anyone nearby has something that floats ask to use it to get ashore safely.

Urbanisation or community pools of 200 square metres or more require the presence of a lifeguard during the hours in which the pool is open.

- Never force your body beyond its limits.

- Do not swim until at least two hours after eating.

- Never take too much sun: always have a shower before entering the water to adjust the temperature of your body.

- If you have some form of infirmity advise the lifeguard - just in case.

- Children will play in the water, but they should be supervised, especially with games using balls.

You are the sunshine of my life

Most visitors come to Spain for the sun that is so beneficial to our bodies and in measured doses helps us to relax from our toils. With over 300 guaranteed days of sunshine the Costa Blanca area has become a magnet for people who want to make their life here, attracted by the quality of life.

However, the sun is also an enemy to the skin. The song expresses it so well, "mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun." The advice is to avoid the sun from midday until about three in the afternoon. Each year a higher percentage of people are diagnosed with skin cancer, normally caused by exposure to the sun. Small children can burn easily, and in many cases, the symptoms do not appear until later in life. The blemishes that can appear are usually a uniform colour of cinnamon colour, through to coffee and black. Usually at first, they will be irregular in shape, about 6 mm in diameter.

Sunbathe gradually, with short times to begin, using a cover for more sensitive parts, especially a hat for the head and sunglasses. Buy sunglasses from a qualified oculist and not from the "lookie, lookie" men on the beach, with their copies of design labels, but without the UV protector that your eyes require. Utilize an adequate sun protector lotion above factor 15 at least 30 minutes before exposure to the sun. If you use the pool or sea, then repeat the protection of the lotion every hour. You should not use perfumes or alcohol based products, as these can make the skin more sensitive and irritates it. Water, snow and sand are great reflectors of the sun's rays and increase the risk of sunburn.

If any unusual rashes appear then consult your doctor who may recommend you to a dermatologist. Better safe than sorry and enjoy the sun.

Enjoy your holiday - stay secure

So you are eon holiday and out to enjoy yourselves. Great, but this does not mean you let own your guard of the security of you and your family. Although the Costa Blanca is a tourist area and attracts thousands of tourists, because of this it attracts dozens of crooks who will try to part you from your hard-gotten cash and credit cards.

Just as you would back home take common sense precautions.

- Never leave items on view inside a parked car.

- Never leave an animal (or child) unattended inside a vehicle.

- Begin at the airport as someone may be watching arrivals and distract you while loading the car and steal something.

- Teams work at airports; one watches you loading your car, especially at Rentacar outlets, and telephones accomplices who follow you to your destination giving out the registration number.

- Arriving at your destination do not leave the car unlocked while unloading the car and ferrying luggage into your house. Likewise do not leave the front door open while you are moving luggage frm car to house.

- The first instinct on arrival is to go out to the beach, a restaurant or to the supermakrket. Ensure that you do not leave anything of value around. Immediately hide any passport or valuables.

- At the supermarket or shops beware of a stranger engaging you in conversation as he/she may   have an accomplice who will be lifting your handbag while being pleasant to you.

- Supermarket car parks offer thieves great opportunities to mug you. Again use your common sense. Before arriving at the car park make sure you have nothing of value in sight because when you arrive someone will see you putting it safely in the boot and then take it from you while you are shopping. Check who is around the car park when you arrive: if you are not happy about someone's appearance then do not get out the car until he/she has moved on.

- Do not put your purse or bag in the shopping basket at a supermarket, as people tend to leave the basket while they wander looking for something.

- Watch people who bump into you, as pickpockets tend to work in threes, so see who else is around. The same applies in open-air markets and bootsales.

- Back in the car park, first of all put your purse away somewhere safe and unload being aware who is around you.

- Never permit anyone into your holiday home unless you know them.

- Remember no one has a right to enter your house (apart from uniformed police or firemen in an emergency). Often people try to enter by disguising themselves as gasmen or other "official".

- Mostly during summer men appear at the doorstep claiming to be from the Gas Company and demand to inspect your gas equipment and even say if you do not let them, then your insurance is void, or your gas contract will be terminated. Gas companies deal with customers through the post, so say that you will go to their office and ask for their business card with the address. If in any doubt contact the police.

- Another scam, usually aimed at bars and restaurants, is someone pertaining to come from he police seeks advertising for the police magazine and hints that you will be well looked after if you co-operate and hand over cash for an advertisement. Phone the police who will be glad to interview this person, as the police magazines never tout advertisers.

- Never leave anything on tables that can be seen from the windows or the open door. A set of keys can easily be "fished" through grills if there is an open window or door and the thief enter the house easily and quietly using your own keys.

- Make sure all doors and windows are secure, especially at night, even though it may be a hot summer night.

- Stealing handbags in muggings is all too often in holiday resorts as these are considered easy pickings. Always have a long strap on your handbag that can go across your shoulders diagonally with the clasp inside next to your body. Keep hold of your bag as even then a sharp knife can slice through the strap.

- Do not make yourself an easy target by flouting jewellery and rings or opening a wad of notes in a restaurant or shop- someone is watching you. Cameras, mobiles and other small equipment are also attractive to thieves so be extra careful with these and do not leave them on top of a restaurant tabletop.

- Put any change from shopping away while you are in the shop as again someone can be watching you.

- Do not walk about with a wallet or purse sticking out from your back pocket.

- Thieves are known to watch banks to see who withdraws cash, and again can phone an accomplice who follows you and steals it from you, either en route or when you arrive at your destination and feeling safe let your guard down.

- Bank cash machines are another target. Thieves can loiter nearby and see who is withdrawing cash and follow them and their money.

- Cash machines can also be targets by more professional thieves, so do follow all the warnings issued by your card company and ensure that no one can see your password number.

- The same applies to points of sale where you are using credit or other cards. Make sure you have your copy of the slip, if this is the system, and never let anyone see you introducing your PIN number. Hi-tech thieves can often scan cards quickly or have a machine that can quickly copy your card.

- If you are going to withdraw cash from a machine, especially at night, take time to ensure that there is no-one loitering; if so do not use the machine and inform the police just in case.

- Be wary of accepting help unless you know the person.

- Outdoor markets are places well known for easy targets as holidaymakers, especially women, always carry cash with them for that "bargain buy". So be especially careful in crowded areas.

- Should you ever be robbed, immediately cancel all your credit cards and inform the corresponding banks. This means that you should have a list of these in a safe place separate from your cards or handbag.

- For insurance claims you require a complaints form (denuncio) frm the Guardia Civil police, which may require paying for a translator if you do not speak Spanish. The police have a set form on their computer and it is up to you to make sure that you list everything that has been stolen.

- Always check your insurance cover as often people are robbed but find that their insurance cover does not apply, as expensive jewellery or other items are not covered because you have not listed them when making the policy out.

- The emergency number in Spain is 112 and normally someone will be on duty that speaks your language, but remember it is an emergency system and is always busy. Know your location, the type of emergency and if an accident or illness what may be the reason, e.g. heart attack.

- If a patient is taken away in an ambulance ask what hospital he/she is going to and follow up. Often in summertime an ambulance can be diverted to a hospital further away because the emergency unit cannot cope for some reason: so it is important to have as much information as possible so that time is not wasted in searching various hospitals for the patient.

- Remember to have your European health card for use in public clinics and hospitals and it is always advisable to take out at least travel insurance.

- With a little common sense and awareness of your surroundings you can enjoy a safe and secure holiday, but do not think it cannot happen to me...until it is too late!

Travel:

Flights: Torrevieja is between Alicante (El Altet) and Murcia (San Javier) airports, giving a huge choice of flights to and from UK and Ireland, as well as many other countries. Valencia airport (Manises) is much further away, but with links towards Gandia, Denia, Calpe and Benidorm, and if necessary down to Alicante and Torrevieja.

Alicante Airport: This is the principal and larger of the two airports near Torrevieja and is actually in the municipal boundaries of Elche which means that the Local Police have an office at the airport. Principal national security lies with the National Police who deal with the immigration and passport control supported by Guardia Civil police a group that acts in a rural capacity but still have a presence at the airport. All Spanish airports will have a National Police presence. The airport terminal has been increased with the addition of a cargo facility and a new building T2 from which most European budget flights depart. A vast building project is underway to increase the runway facilities and a new terminal building.

Murcia Airport: This is still a military airfield but in the past few years the civil aviation authority has increased the number of destinations and aircraft. It is located in Murcia Region, south of Torrevieja in San Javier, and is a delightful airport, but with no real shopping facilities, especially for tobacco. It is a walk-on walk-off system so be prepared if it is raining or is very hot.

RENFE is Spain' principal railway company with links throughout the country. There are different types of train used the most modern being the AVE and the EUROMED which are very comfortable, smooth running with television, buffet car, and are kept scrupulously clean - more like a plane than a train. Other types are Alaris, Sitaria, Alvia, Arco, Diumo, Estrella, Intercity, Talgo, Talgo 200, and Trenhotel. There are various types of tickets that are all priced reasonably. Preferente, Tourist (with children's discount) First Class and of course the same for children. There are several passes obtainable with substantial discounts - Eurail, Eurail Global Pass, Dorada (great for pensioners), Tarjeta Personal. It is possible to have a travel pass from as low as 84 euros upwards that tie in with hotels. Prices will vary depending on the season and even the day. Special arrangements for the disabled are also available. Check out the RENFE WEB in English     http://horarios.renfe.es/hir/ingles.html#

Buses:

ALSA is one of Spain's leading coach companies and part of the British National Express Group with an office in Alicante's Bus Station. They run buses from the Alicante airport to the Alicante bus station where there are buses to Murcia, Benidorm, Altea and Calpe. In addition there are connections to Valencia airport useful if you are going to Valencia, Denia, Gandia or down to Alicante. If you can show Spanish residence then you can have an ALSA BUS PLUS card that earns travel points for free travel and discounts. www.alsa.es

COSTA AZUL still has to make a deal to link south of Alicante with the airport. Its main link is between Alicante and Cartagena touching in at Santa Pola, Guardamar, Torrevieja, and Los Alcázares en route. But check out which bus to get on, as sometimes it is an express with only a couple of stops. First class air-conditioned buses. This company also has a contract with Torrevieja town hall to offer a free municipal service within town boundaries to all of those signed on at the town hall; otherwise it is usually a euro per trip. //www.costazul.net/linea%2520mata2.jpg&imgrefur

VEGA BAJA buses have priority on inland routes from Torrevieja to Crevillente and Orihuela. This company also has some routes inside Torrevieja that can be used by those with free transport cards from the town hall.

Some time in the next few years a hybrid tranvia will be introduced with a tramcar system of electricity in Torrevieja and other towns and a diesel system on most other roads.